The Connecticut Rivers Council is one of New England's largest private youth-serving organizations; the Connecticut Rivers Council delivers Scouting programs that develop character, citizenship, fitness, and leadership skills to more than 20,000 youth and nearly 7,000 adult volunteers in 127 cities and towns in Connecticut. The Boy Scouts of America collaborates with hundreds of churches, school affiliated groups and other community organizations that organize and operate local Scout groups.

OUR MISSION: It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America and the Connecticut Rivers Council to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout oath and law.

SCOUT OATH: On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

The skills I learned in the Boy Scouts gave me the confidence and mindset to be successful in school, in my community, and in my personal growth.

- ERIC STANLEY

COUNCIL STAFF

STEVEN

SMITH

CEO/Scout Executive

Steven earned the Eagle Scout rank with 3 palms and Vigil membership in the Order of the Arrow as a youth member. Steven was a Thomas Haggia fellow at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO where he graduated and received the Certified Non-Profit (CNP) certification from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. Steven’s Scouting career began in 1982 as a District Executive in Wichita KS and then moved through several positions and ultimately became a Scout Executive in Dubuque, IA in 1991 and Lincoln, NE in 1996. In 2005 Steven was appointed Area Director of Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania and returned to Council work as Scout Executive of the Connecticut Rivers Council in 2010.

Maria joined CRC as the Executive Assistant to the Scout Executive/CEO in August 2012. Prior to joining CRC Maria was employed for 20 years at the Hispanic Health Council (HHC), a non-profit organization based in Hartford, CT. During that time she held the position of Executive Assistant and after 10 years in the organization she was promoted to Human Resources Manager. Maria has vast experience in the areas of administrative support, facilities management, personnel recruitment and benefits administration. Maria resides in Hartford with her husband Tony, has two adult children and one grand-child.

Andy began his Scouting career in 2006 and received his commission as a District Executive in the Baden-Powell Council in Binghamton, New York. In 2008 he was promoted to Senior District Executive in the Baden-Powell Council where he also served as adviser to Otahnagon Lodge #172 and Camp Director of Tuscarora Scout Reservation. In 2011 Andy was promoted to Camping Director in the Patriot’s Path Council in Florham Park, New Jersey where he served as advisor to Winnebago Scout Reservation in Rockaway, New Jersey, Sabattis Adventure Camp in Long Lake New York, Woapalanne Lodge #43, and Section NE-5A. In 2013, he joined the Baltimore Area Council as a Field Director. While in Baltimore he also served as Staff Adviser for Nentico Lodge #12, Section NE-6A and as Course Director for National Camping School held at Broad Creek Scout Reservation. He is a Life Scout, Vigil Honor member, has earned the Professional Circle Award, and completed the course for the Wood Badge N-220-14-2. Andy is married to Dr. Jessica Zilnik and they have a dog and cat named Copper and Gremlynn.

Kevin began his Scouting career in 2003 as Council Registrar for the Baltimore Area Council. He received his professional commission in 2009 and went on to serve as District Executive and Field Director in Baltimore. Kevin also served as a Camp Director at Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation for six years. He went on to serve as District Director, Director of Field Service, and Development Director with the Great Southwest Council in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kevin was a Life Scout, is a Vigil Honor member, James E. West Fellow and is a Bobwhite from Wood Badge Course NEIV-154. Kevin is married to Melissa McClelland, a Veterinary Technician. Together they have 3 dogs and 2 cats.

Robin joined Connecticut Rivers Council in February 2015 as the Director of Marketing. She is responsible for the marketing, communication and social media footprint efforts of the council. In addition, she directs media relations, branding, fundraising, advertising and website development. Robin has more than 25 years of experience in the Communication/Marketing industry. Prior to joining the council she was the Engineering Communication/Marketing Brand Manager at Sikorsky Aircraft and was the Communications Director at Viridian Energy. Robin is a Commissioned Professional and is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University with a B.S. degree in Corporate Communications. She also holds a graduate degree from Fairfield University, with a M.A. in Media & Educational Technology. Robin's love for Scouting came from being on the Board of Directors for "Camp Sikorsky" for 14 years and having two children that were involved in Girl Scouts. Robin resides in North Haven with her husband Jeff and two daughters, Josephine and Caroline.

James is an Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow. He has worked for the BSA since 1980, serving in eight councils in Dalton & Springfield MA. Syracuse NY, Janesville WI, Newburgh NY, East Providence RI and East Hartford CT. Jim has a son who is an Eagle Scout and two Grandsons who are Cub Scouts.

Jake began working for the Boy Scouts of America in 2011 in Albany, NY, where he served as a District Executive and Camp Director. In 2013, Jake moved to the Connecticut Rivers Council as a Senior District Executive and then in 2014 became the Council's Program Director. He serves as staff advisor for Cub Scout day camps, Order of the Arrow, the Council Advancement and Training committees, and community partner events.

Deb started her Scouting career as a Den Leader and held other unit and district positions before working for the Council. In her 23 years at CRC she has held various positions; and is presently the Office Manager and Registrar, a position she has had for the last three years. Deb is the one who makes sure your membership registration is up to date, certifies the Eagle Scout Rank applications and maintains the files. She is married to an Eagle Scout with palms and has two grandsons just starting the Cub Scout program.

Elizabeth is a native New Yorker and the last of 8 children. "This is great proving ground for a Controller, who every day gets to talk to volunteers, vendor and employees about a variety of topics". The functions of the business office are the “stuff of business life” that help keep an operation moving smoothly. Elizabeth's job is centered around paying vendors, volunteers and employees, reporting information about the organizations, and meeting other internal and external informational needs.

Kay joined the Business Office as Accounting Specialist in 2007. She has been active in scouting for fifteen years as a volunteer and currently serves as a committee member for Troop 72 in Colchester.

Kay is a member of the Happy Wanderers chapter of CT Family Campers and RVers and loves spending time exploring the outdoors taking long walks with her dog and kayaking. She also enjoys antiquing, crafting and reading. She is a widow; has a daughter and a son who are both married, and two grandchildren.

Liz joined the Boy Scouts of America in April 2005 as a Receptionist. During her time/tenure at CRC Liz has served in various positions. She has worked as an Administrative Assistant in both the Finance Department and in the Department of Field service. In 2014 Liz was transferred back to the Finance Department as an Office Assistant. Liz assists with data entry for all development related campaigns such as Special events, Community Campaign, James E. West Awards, etc. She spends her free time with her family.

Kay has worked at CRC since October 2011 as the receptionist who greets our visitors, Scouts and volunteers. Kay covers many areas of work to assist CRC including setting appointments, filing, record keeping and many other office tasks, all for the sake of keeping things moving. She is married to an Assistant Scoutmaster and has two sons. Kay’s youngest son is a Life Scout and working towards Eagle. Her oldest son is an Eagle Scout and also a Sea Scout working towards Quartermaster. As a family they all enjoy being at their cabin in Pennsylvania enjoying various water sports.

Kelly joined the Boy Scouts of America in March 2011 as the Office Assistant to the Council’s Director of Support Services & Program Director. She is the point of contact for the department’s program events. She assists with camping registrations, refunds, cancellations and other various duties. Kelly supports the Popcorn Annual Fundraiser. Prior to joining the council, she was in higher education at the University of Hartford where she was an Accounts Payroll Specialist, as well as an Administrative Assistant in the Communications and the Legal Studies Departments. Previously, an Executive Assistant at the Connecticut Culinary Institution. She joined Girl Scouts as a child and went on to become a leader. She spends free time traveling and doing community service.

Manny has been the district executive for Mark Twain for a year and a half now and has now been promoted to Development Director. "The program volunteers, parents and Scouts have been amazing to work with and I am learning more and more everyday about all the great things scouting has to offer for to the communities we serve." He has been able to use a lot of the skillsets that he has learned to help him settle into his new role. Manny joined CRC after spending 12-years with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Waterbury where he had achieved great success starting from a volunteer and holding multiple director positions within the Boys & Girls Clubs and leaving as the Director of Operations.

Marj is responsible for the overall coordination of all fundraising campaigns and special events. She works closely with the five United Way organizations who support the Council, securing and renewing grants from public and private foundations and develops donor cultivation plans aiming to establish long term individual relationships.

Marj received the District Award of Merit, is a Paul Harris Fellow through the New London Rotary where she also served on the Executive Board. In 2010 she received the Cliff Dochterman Award from the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians. She was named Fundraiser of the Year from the National Association of Fundraising Executives; is listed in Who’s Who among Executives and Professionals and received the Women in Business Award from the Southeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to Finance Impact training at the National Office of BSA, Marj has extensive fundraising training through the Association for Fundraising Professionals having completed numerous courses on expanding successful special events, establishing for impact organizations, grant writing and donor relations.

Marj resides in Waterford, CT and has a son who earned his Eagle with two palms.

Shonya Harrison has devoted her career to the field of public service with 25 plus years in non profit management. Employment record includes two respected non-profit organizations, significant work in the non-profit sector, and most recently experience with the VNA Healthcare, Covenant to Care for Children and Windham Arts.

Professional skills includes program administration, contract management, grant writing, patient advocacy, staff supervision, cultural competence, case management and overall, public management. She has a Master of Science in Management and Health Systems in 2007, graduating from St. Joseph College with a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College.

She is also Founder, No Animal Left Unfed Inc., non profit that distributes pet food to families within the State of CT.

Sally has an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Stone Academy, Bachelors in Science Degree in Human Services from Springfield College and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Connecticut School Of Social Work. Sally previously worked as a clinical social worker for Correctional Managed Health Care. She worked in our Connecticut Rivers Scout Shop prior to being hired as Hockanum Rivers District Executive. Sally resides in Middle Haddam CT and has a son, Skyler who attends St. Lawrence University.

Charlie has served as the Nipmuck District Executive since 2015. His prior experience includes the Boy Scout Supply Division, Aetna and Cigna. As a youth, Charlie was a summer camp staff member at Camp Tuscazoar and Camp Buckeye.

Charlie is an Eagle Scout from Troop 37 in Canton, Ohio and a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow.

Jason joined Scouting in the mid 1980's as a Cub Scout. While a member of Troop 6 in Bristol, Jason became a member of the Order of the Arrow and would go on to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in 1991. He returned to Scouting, after graduating from UConn with a degree in Communications, by serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Counselor for his original troop. Prior to joining the Connecticut Rivers Council staff, Jason worked for 10 years as a customer service trainer for gas and electric utilities in CT, MA, and NH, specializing in training program design and facilitation. Jason is married, has 2 children, ages 10 and 4, and spends his free time "adventuring" with his family, writing and performing music, and enjoying the outdoors.

Jennifer “Jenny” is the District Executive for Mohegan and has served as a volunteer in the Nipmuck District, as a Den Leader, Cubmaster, Merit Badge Counselor and Assistant Scoutmaster. On a district level, she has served as a unit commissioner and as membership committee chair. Jenny is a brotherhood member of Tschitani Lodge, Nipmuck Chapter. For the past 5 years, she has volunteered as a camp Den Leader and an archery instructor at Akela Cub Day Camp, Pequot Cub Day Camp and J.N. Webster WeBeLoS Resident Camp. Jennifer worked at a local hospital in the Development Department for nine years and was the Director of Development for a non-profit organization in Willimantic, CT for two years. A graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University with a degree in Communications, focused on Public Relations and Graphic Fine Arts and after graduation she served on their Alumni Board for 6 years. She lives in Chaplin, Connecticut with her husband Troy and two sons, Trevor is a Life Scout currently working on his Eagle, Dylan is a Second-Class Scout.

Peter is an Eagle Scout of Troop 102 in Naugatuck, CT and a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow. Peter joined scouting in 1998 as a Tiger Cub and has been an active scouter ever since. He served as a Waterfront staff member at Camp Mattatuck from 2005 to 2011. Peter graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Physiology and received a commission into the United States Navy. He is beginning his professional Scouting career as District Executive for the Mattabesett Trail District. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, backpacking, whitewater kayaking, and dog training. Peter has been married to his wife Emily for two years and has a daughter on the way!

Amy is the Senior District Executive/ District Executive for Northwest Hills and received her professional commission in April 2016. A recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, Amy’s expertise in the scouting environment is derived from her 12 years as a volunteer in the Mad River District where she has chaired the membership committee, served as the Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner, Unit Commissioner, and was Program Director for the Mattatuck Cub Day Camp and Webelos Resident Camp programs. Amy has also assisted with Cub and Boy Scout training events, camping committee, FOS presentations and currently serves as a committee member with Troop 11 in Middlebury. Amy is a brotherhood member of Tschitani Lodge, Mattatuck Chapter. She most recently served as a member of the National Cub Adventure team where she assisted in writing the new Cub Scout handbooks. Amy studied Marketing at the University of South Carolina, Coastal campus. She has been married to her husband, Richard, for 23 years and has two sons, Eagle Scout and ASM, Joseph, and Life Scout Jason.

Jay comes to the council with a broad experience in marketing sales operations and IT. An Eagle Scout and Brotherhood member of the OA Jay has been a Scouting volunteer in Connecticut since 2006. Serving most recently as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Woodbadge Quartermaster.

Jay is married to an angel, has 3 beautiful children, and lives with his family in Berlin, CT.

Heather is a part of the field service team as the STEM Scouts Executive and reports directly to the Assistant Director of Field Service, Rolland Miner. Heather is from New Milford, Connecticut. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Master of Arts in teaching degree from Western Connecticut State University. During Heather’s academic years, she was president of the Biology club, chair of fundraising for Habitat for Humanity, a chosen member of the Hancock Student Leadership program, the Senator of Arts and Sciences for Student Government, the chair and founder of Student Government environmental committee, and an active volunteer for several other projects. Before the Boy Scouts of America, Heather worked in the Drug and Safety department at Boehringer - Ingelheim. Throughout Heather’s time there, she developed and managed a scheduling system that allowed departments to manage their research. During her free time she enjoys skiing, hiking, playing guitar and traveling. Heather’s passion for the natural sciences and transition into the educational community is a journey in which she is honored to participate. Heather enjoys learning and watching others learn through experience and determination. “I am honored to be a part of the team here at the Connecticut Rivers Council and as the STEM Executive, I hope to inspire and encourage new Scouts to discover their own passions and curiosities.”

Frank joined CT Rivers Council in September 2003 as a full time Ranger for Camp Workcoeman. He is responsible for the development, maintenance and security of the Council's 500 acre facility located on West Hill Lake, in New Hartford, CT. Prior to accepting the position of Camp Ranger, Frank served as Camp Director for Camp Tadma, a Council Cub Scout camp for 8 years after serving as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Frank has been active in scouting for 37 years, in several different leadership capacities. Frank resides at Camp Workcoeman with his two daughters, McKenna and Kyra.